Four Must-DO Tips For International Students Entering the Aussie Job Market
Nov. 20, 2012 at 10:51 AM | By Joanna Schwarz | Comment Count
While completing a degree in Australia certainly enhances international students’ employment prospects, it’s important that students take steps during their studies to ensure that they are in the best possible position to gain work once they graduate. Counselors and advisors can ensure students are on the right track for career success by encouraging students to consider the following tips.
- Seek out work experience while enrolled: Students should be encouraged to gain voluntary work experience while they are still at school, whether through an internship or a community service placement. They should also consider part-time work relevant to their field of study. This will help them to familiarize themselves with both their industry and the Australian work environment.
There are a number of things that international students should consider if they choose to complete work experience, including work restrictions (currently set at no more than 40 hours per fortnight when their course is in session) and ensuring that they are aware of their worker rights (receiving fair wages if taking on a paid position, for example).
Check out the Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC) website for more information.
- Consider taking up professional membership: Professional membership is offered by a number of organizations (two of the major ones being the Australian Computer Society and Engineers Australia). It is usually available to both current students and graduates.
There are numerous benefits, the most obvious being that some fields and employers require students to be either a member or eligible for membership. In other fields where membership is not a requirement, professional membership can help job applicants to distinguish themselves from the competition and enhance their credibility. This is particularly helpful for international students hoping to stand out in the crowd.
- Explore post-graduation employment options: At the conclusion of their studies, students may consider undertaking a graduate program in their field with an Australian employer. Graduates exiting an accounting, computer science or engineering degree may also consider a Professional Year Program (PYP).
Students hoping to complete a graduate program are required to obtain a Skilled — Graduate (Temporary) Visa (Subclass 485). The Australian Government is also in the process of introducing a new post-study work visa. This new visa will see graduates of bachelor and masters by coursework degrees become eligible for a two-year post-study work visa, while masters by research and doctoral graduates will receive a three-year and four-year work visa respectively.
*Note: As with many programs in the U.S., these programs can be very competitive (even for domestic students). Graduates should consider entry requirements, including English language proficiency.
- Explore long-term visa options: Many international students choose to apply for permanent residency once they have completed their studies so that they can take up permanent employment in Australia. In order to gain permanent residency, graduates need to express interest through the Australian Government’s SkillSelect migration program. This is a new online service that allows intending migrants to lodge an Expression of Interest (EOI), which may result in invitation to apply for a visa. Graduates may be granted permanent residency under the Skilled Independent (subclass 189) visa. Certain conditions apply to this visa, including age, health, character and English language requirements, as well as the nomination of a skilled occupation from the Skilled Occupation List (SOL).